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A monthly publication of the National Space Science Data Center/World Data Center for Satellite Information

No. 649

01 December 2007

SPACEWARN Activities

All information in this publication was received between
01 November 2007 and 30 November 2007.

A. List of New International Designations and Launch Dates (UTC).

COSPAR/WWASInternational ID

USSTRATCOMCatalog Number

Spacecraft Name

Launch Date (UT)

2007-057A

32299

Sirius 4

17 November 2007

2007-056B

32294

Skynet 5B

14 November 2007

2007-056A

32293

Star One C1

14 November 2007

2007-055A

32289

Yaogan 3

11 November 2007

2007-054A

32287

USA 197

11 November 2007

2007-053A

32283

Sar Lupe 3

01 November 2007

B. Text of Launch Announcements.

2007-057A

Sirius 4
is a Swedish geostationary communications spacecraft
that was launched by a Proton-M rocket from Baikonur at 22:40 UT
on 17 November 2007. (It is also listed as SES Sirius 4, by
prefixing the operating company's name). The 4.4 tonne (with fuel)
craft carries 52 Ku-band and two Ka-band transponders to provide
direct-to-home (DTH) TV and internet services to Europe and sub-
Saharan Africa after parking over 5.0° E longitude.

2007-056B

Skynet 5B
is a British geostationary military communications
satellite that was launched by an Ariane 5 rocket from Kourou
at 22:06 UT on 14 November 2007. The 4.7 tonne craft will also
service NATO needs through X-band transmissions. No further details
are available.

2007-056A

Star One C1
is a Brazilian geostationary communications satellite
that was launched by an Ariane 5 rocket from Kourou at 22:06 UT on
14 November 2007. The 4.1 tonne (with fuel) craft carries 28 C-band
and 16 Ku-band transponders to provide direct-to-home (DTH) voice,
video, and internet services to Brazil and neighboring countries
after parking over 65° W longitude. It carries a single X-band
transponder also for military use. It will replace the aging
Brazilsat B2.

2007-055A

Yaogan 3
is a Chinese (PRC) remote sensing craft that was launched
by a Long March rocket from Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center (TSLC)
on 11 November 2007. It carries imaging equipment to assess crop
yields and to monitor potential natural catastrophes. The initial
orbital parameters were period 97.3 min, apogee 629 km, perigee
628 km, and inclination 97.8°.

2007-054A

USA 197,
also known as DSP 23, is an American geostationary military
craft that was launched by a Delta 4 rocket on 11 November 2007.
The 2.4 tonne craft carries infrared detectors to warn of rocket
launches, like the entire fleet of DSP satellites that are deployed.
No further information is available.

2007-053A

Sar Lupe 3
is a German military radar reconnaissance craft that was
launched by a Kosmos-3M rocket from Plesetsk on 01 November 2007.
The 720 kg craft carries a X-band and S-band transmitters to
provide one-meter resolution images. It is the third of an eventual
five-craft constellation. The initial orbital parameters were
period 94.2 min, apogee 495 km, perigee 466 km, and inclination
98.2°.

C. Spacecraft Particularly Suited for International Participation

High precision (<20 cm) GPS constellation tracking data obtained from
the network of about 400 dedicated global stations that are of interest to
geodetic study may be obtained through the following services provided
by the International GNSS Service (IGS). The IGS is a service of the
International Association of Geodesy (IAG).

All GLONASS spacecraft are in the general Cosmos series. The Cosmos numbers
invoked by USSPACECOM have often differed from the numbers (NNNN)
associated in Russia; when different, the USSPACECOM Cosmos numbers are shown
in parentheses. The corresponding GLONASS numbers are Russian numbers, followed
by the numbers in parentheses that are sometimes attributed to them outside
Russia.

60-day Decay Predictions.

Miscellaneous Items.

This section contains information or data that are entered on occasion
and may not be repeated in each issue of the SPACEWARN Bulletin.

The following are the revised names of the three Glonass satellites that
were launched on 26 October 2007. Their Glonass numbers remain unascertained.
Cosmos 2433 (2007-052A), Cosmos 2432 (2007-52B) and Cosmos 2431 (2007-053C)

The following are the official names of the four Globalstar craft that were
launched on 20 October 2007 (They were listed as Globalstar-A, Globalstar-B, Globalstar-C, and Globalstar-D.):
Globalstar-M067 (2007-048A), Globalstar-M070 (2007-048B), Globalstar-M066
(2007-048C), and Globalstar-M068 (2007-048D).

Related NSSDC resources.

NSSDC/WDC for Satellite Information is an archival center for science
data from many spacecraft. Many space physics datasets are on-line for
electronic access through:http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/space/

For off-line data, please contact the Request Office, NSSDC, Code 690.1,
NASA GSFC, Greenbelt, Maryland 20771, U.S.A., for specific information
(nssdc-request@listserv.gsfc.nasa.gov).
Information on the current status of the instruments on board from the
investigators will be most welcomed. Precomputed trajectory files
and orbital parameters of many magnetospheric and heliospheric science-payload
spacecraft may be obtained from:http://nssdcftp.gsfc.nasa.gov/miscellaneous/orbits/